British Airways has unveiled a new uniform for the first time in nearly 20 years. The collection, designed by Ghanaian-British fashion designer Ozwald Boateng OBE, will be worn by more than 30,000 members of the airline’s staff beginning in Spring 2023.
According to a press release, the collection includes a tailored three-piece suit for men with regular and slim fit style trousers, as well as dress, skirt, and trouser options for women, as well as a modern jumpsuit, an airline first. Female cabin crew can now choose between a tunic and a hijab.
To create the collection, Boateng spent time shadowing colleagues in their roles at the airline. The airwave pattern, which appears on jackets, t-shirts, buttons, and ties, was inspired by the movement of air over an aircraft wing, according to British Airways. The jacquard fabric used across all tailored garments features a variation of the airline’s iconic speedmarque, according to the airline.
The airline has been secretly testing the uniforms for the last six months to ensure that they are fit for purpose, according to the airline.
“Designing this uniform was a vast and painstaking undertaking that went far beyond clothes,” said Boateng, who has been working on the collection since 2018. It was all about inducing an internal energetic shift. One of my primary goals was to create something that spoke to and for the airline’s employees. Something that inspired and empowered them, encouraged them to take pride in their roles, and most importantly, made them feel seen and heard. Despite the airline’s strong heritage, it was critical to assist in creating a new narrative of change and transcendence while remaining timely.”
Boateng was born on the 28th of February, 1967. Many people like and admire the fashion designer for his signature take on classic tailoring and bespoke style. Boateng was born in Muswell Hill, North London, after his parents immigrated from Ghana in the 1950s. He draws inspiration from his father’s impeccable suits when he was younger.
His passion for fashion has been evident since childhood, as evidenced by the fact that he was only fourteen when he found himself a summer job sewing linings into suits.